The Acting Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Hon. Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP (UK) and the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg have undertaken a visit to the Parliament of Pakistan and CPA Pakistan Branch.

The CPA delegation met with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Hon. Asad Qaiser, MNA to discuss the ongoing support and professional development opportunities that the CPA provides to Parliamentarians across the CPA Asia Region as well as the importance of Pakistan within the Commonwealth. The CPA delegation also discussed ongoing collaboration between the CPA and the Parliament of Pakistan as well as upcoming activities for the CPA Asia Region.

Above: The CPA delegation meet with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.

During the visit to Pakistan, the Acting CPA Chairperson and CPA Secretary-General joined the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) network, Hon. Shandana Gulzar Khan, MNA (Pakistan) at an International Women's Day event in Islamabad, hosted by the SDGs Secretariat of the National Assembly of Pakistan. The event marked the launch a year of activity on UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5) - Empowering Women and Girls - and celebrated the historical, cultural and political achievements of women.

To mark International Women’s Day during their visit to Pakistan, the Acting CPA Chairperson and the CPA Secretary-General met with the Pakistan Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) Secretary, Hon. Munaza Hassan, MNA to discuss bridging the gap between Parliament and civil society organisations (CSOs) on gender equality.

The CPA has a strong focus on youth engagement and so the Acting CPA Chairperson and the CPA Secretary-General undertook several educational visits coordinated by the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services. The CPA delegation first spoke to students about the Commonwealth, the CPA and the role of Pakistan in regional and global politics during a meeting with students at Beaconhouse school in Islamabad. Subsequently, the CPA delegation visited the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) to speak to students at a seminar on youth and Parliament.

The CPA delegation attended a parliamentary dialogue with the Pakistan Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) to discuss anti-radicalisation and peace building. The Forum meeting was also addressed by Hon. Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, MNA, President of the YPF and Convener for SDG16.

Along with the CWP Chairperson, the CPA delegation visited a school for Afghan refugee children run by the Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education (PAGE). The CPA Secretary-General, a former Education Minister, supports a number of initiatives that recognise the importance of education for global development and democracy, enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter and 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG4).

The CPA delegation met with the CPA Asia Regional Champion for the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities, Hon. Zill-e Huma, MNA to discuss the recent disability audit at the Parliament of Pakistan as well as progress on SDG10 on reducing inequalities and also with Senator Sania Nishtar to hear about her her Ministry’s work on poverty alleviation and social protection.

At the conclusion of their visit to Pakistan, the Acting CPA Chairperson and the CPA Secretary-General, accompanied by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Chairperson, were received by the President of Pakistan, His Excellency Arif Alvi.

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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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